ciliochoroidal melanoma presenting as a subconjunctival mass

purpose: to report a rare case of ciliochoroidal malignant melanoma presenting as a subconjunctival black-colored mass adjacent to the limbus. patient and findings: a 42-year-old woman presented with a subconjunctival black-colored mass adjacent to the limbus in left eye from 2 years ago. the lesion had increased in size during the previous 2 months. funduscopic examination with scleral depression disclosed a small mass at the cilioretinal junction. gonioscopy revealed that the superior portion of the angle was occupied by the mass. visual acuity and intraocular pressure were normal. other systemic examinations were unremarkable. because of extensive extraocular extension of the tumor, the left eye was enucleated and histopathologic examination of the globe disclosed a highly pigmented medium-sized ciliochoroidal malignant melanoma of mixed cell type together with marked anterior extrascleral extension. results of 6-month follow-up for metastasis were negative. conclusion: a darkly pigmented epibulbar mass may be the first manifestation of ciliochoroidal malignant melanoma.